VINCE Podcast Episode 223 Summary

Episode Title: ICE Director Faces Congress as SAVE Act Ignites GOP Debate
Host: Vince Coglianese
Date: February 11, 2026
Podcast Network: Cumulus Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode of the VINCE podcast dives deep into two of the hottest topics on Capitol Hill: the Republican push to pass the SAVE Act—a bill focused on election security and proof-of-citizenship voting requirements—and the heated congressional hearing where ICE Director Todd Lyons faced aggressive Democratic questioning over immigration enforcement. Vince unpacks the status, challenges, and constitutional debates swirling around the SAVE Act; exposes internal Senate confusion; reviews ICE's embattled work environment; and offers critical analysis of recent developments in the Nancy Guthrie case, rounding out with broader commentary on political dynamics and public safety.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The SAVE Act: The GOP’s Make-or-Break Election Security Push

Senate Republicans’ Confusion and Mobilization

• Many U.S. Senators are unclear on fundamental Senate procedures like the standing (or “talking”) filibuster.
  • Vince: “There are United States senators who don't even actually know the rules of the Senate. ... They didn't know that all they needed to do was go to the floor, establish a quorum and pass this. This is how sclerotic and sort of wasted away the Senate is...” [04:03]
• Senator Mike Lee leads efforts to educate colleagues and strategize for passage:
  • As of the episode’s taping, 38 co-sponsors are on board, with a goal of reaching 50 by week’s end.
  • [List of supportive Senators provided by Vince ~09:10]

Resistance from Within: Lisa Murkowski’s Opposition

• Sen. Murkowski claims the SAVE Act represents federal overreach, drawing false equivalence with Democrats’ HR1 election bill from 2021.

  • Vince: “Lisa freaking Murkowski has come out against it. It's not a surprise, but it's appalling...” [12:00]

• Vince delivers an impassioned constitutional rebuttal, referencing:

  • Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 (Congress’s authority over federal election rules)
  • Federalist No. 59 (Hamilton’s rationale for congressional intervention)
  • Historical context contrasting HR1 (Pelosi’s bill) and the SAVE Act

  Notable Quote:

  “If the states rig their elections ... they could ‘annihilate our Union.’ Hamilton said. In other words, he mounted a ferocious argument on behalf of Congress playing a role here.” — Vince [16:33]

Community Context

• Murkowski was the only Republican who voted to advance the 2021 voter reforms she now criticizes—prompting a scathing fact-check mid-show.
• Vince: "She lies about her own role. She supported pushing Nancy Pelosi's election takeover in 2021. Oh, my goodness, Alaska ... get rid of Lisa Murkowski. Please." [23:34]

Public Pressure and Grassroots Action

• Vince credits audience activism for moving the conversation and Senate priorities.
  • “Pressure that you are placing on the Senate right now is working. It's clearly working to the point that they're freaking out about it...” [08:00]

White House and Presidential Position

• Reagan Reese, Vince’s White House correspondent, presses for administration clarity on the SAVE Act and filibuster strategy.
  • Notable exchange [25:02]:

    Reagan Reese (White House Correspondent): “...I'm wondering when the last time the president spoke to Leader Thune was and if he discussed using the stand and filibuster to pass legislation.”
    WH Press Secretary: “The President has given his position on the standing filibuster. ...They speak very frequently. The president's in constant communication with both Leader Thune and the House Speaker.”

2. ICE in the Congressional Hot Seat: Political Fireworks and Violence at the Border

ICE Director Todd Lyons’ Sobering Testimony

• Danger and Hostility: ICE faces historically dangerous working conditions, with death threats spiking 8,000% and assaults up 1,400%.
  • “One officer in Minnesota had his finger bitten off by a protester, egged on by elected officials characterizing our offices as Gestapo or secret police.”—Todd Lyons [34:48]
  • Lyons’ commitment: “Let me send a message to anyone who thinks they can intimidate us. You will fail.” [35:57]

Congressional Grandstanding and Demonization

• Democrats aggressively attacked ICE during the hearing:

  • Eric Swalwell directly asks Lyons if he’ll “stand with the kids ... or side with the killers,” then demands his resignation.
    • Lyons replies: “No, sir, I won’t. ... The men and women of ICE took care of him when his father abandoned him in RAN law enforcement.” [38:27]
  • Dan Goldman compares ICE officers to Nazis, prompting Lyons to recommend he “go down the street to the Holocaust Museum and learn something about the actual Nazis...” [39:34]
  • Lamonica McIver accuses Lyons of having “blood on his hands” and asks if he’s “going to hell.”
    • Lyons: “I’m not gonna entertain that question.” [41:46]
  • Sri Thanedar threatens prosecutions for ICE, boasts of moving to abolish the agency if Democrats regain control. [44:20]

  Memorable Moments:

  “Are you going to stand with the killers? No, we're arresting killers, you complete jackass.” — Vince, responding to Swalwell [38:35]

  “Todd Lyons says, you have no idea what you're talking about ... He actually gives us a good faith interpretation that [Goldman] just is probably ignorant. ... You should go down the street to the Holocaust Museum.” — Vince [40:03]

ICE Enforcement Highlights

• ICE is detaining and arresting protesters interfering with federal agents, particularly aggressive legal observers in Minnesota.
  • Over 655 arrested under Title 18 for interfering with officers—double previous years.
  • ICE’s work credited with calming unrest in Minnesota and pressing local officials to cooperate more fully.

3. Nancy Guthrie Case: New Developments

Breakthrough in Evidence

• The FBI and Google recover images and video from Guthrie’s doorbell camera, previously thought inaccessible.
  • Video/Photos: Show suspect approaching and attempting to block the doorbell camera, possibly carrying a visible weapon, using foliage to obscure the lens.
  • Blood Trail: Blood matching Nancy Guthrie’s DNA found from her porch to driveway.

Suspect Developments

• Arizona Doordash driver "Carlos" detained, questioned, and released after being identified via cell phone geolocation.
  • Carlos in media interview: “They held me against my will. They didn't [read] my rights until two hours later. ... My wrist is all swollen...” [~1:19:00]
  • Authorities have not ruled him out but let him go for now.

National Attention

• President Trump and White House staff indicate a strong desire to resolve the case quickly.

4. Other Noteworthy Segments

• Trump’s Minnesota Comments: Trump, in an interview with Larry Kudlow, calls Rep. Ilhan Omar a “fake congresswoman” and links her and Somali immigrants in Minnesota to alleged "fraud."

  • Omar responds on social media by calling for Trump's execution, referencing Somalia's justice system—prompting Vince to call her rhetoric “poisonous” and “psychotic.”
  • Further clarification that Trump aided in the Epstein case, per new DOJ/FBI records.

• Calls to Action: Vince urges listeners to pressure their senators, follow the show on Spotify for podcast ranking boosts, and remain vigilant in the political fight over election integrity and immigration enforcement.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Vince on the Senate’s Confusion (SAVE Act):

  "This is Schoolhouse Rock stuff. What? You don't know how it works? This is maddening, but we're going to have to drag them across the finish line..." [06:00]

• Vince on Murkowski’s Opposition:

  "...this is utter garbage. Let's do a fact check here. ... False. The plain text of the Constitution..." [12:48]

• ICE Director Lyons on Hostility:

  "One officer in Minnesota had his finger bitten off by a protester, egged on by elected officials characterizing our offices as Gestapo or secret police. ... You will fail." [34:48]-[35:57]

• Vince on Democratic Attacks During ICE Hearing:

  "Swalwell's so easy to dunk on, it's hilarious. ... We're the ones who are arresting the killers and getting them the hell out of this country." [38:35]

  "[Goldman] ... You should go down the street to the Holocaust Museum and learn something." [40:03]

  "If there's a soul to pray for in that conversation, it's hers. What she just did was evil. That was evil." — (referring to Rep. McIver) [42:19]

• White House Press Room on SAVE Act:

  "I can obviously speak for the president, who is possibly, quite possibly, the strongest supporter of the SAVE Act..." [25:02]

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – 05:00: Episode overview, context, general SAVE Act status in the Senate
• 05:00 – 14:00: Senate confusion, Mike Lee’s leadership, co-sponsor list, Murkowski’s opposition
• 14:00 – 25:00: Constitutional debate; Federalist No. 59 breakdown
• 25:00 – 27:00: White House Press Secretary Q&A via Reagan Reese
• 34:48 – 40:03: ICE Director’s opening statement, congressional questioning, and response to being called “Gestapo”
• 41:38 – 44:42: Rep. McIver’s religious attacks, Rep. Thanedar’s threats to prosecute ICE, ICE response
• 1:12:00 – End: Nancy Guthrie case update—doorbell camera images, suspect, President’s involvement

Episode Tone & Style

Vince’s delivery is assertive, combative, and irreverently humorous, employing sarcasm and historical references. He directly addresses listeners as partners in political activism and offers a "behind-the-scenes" feel, interweaving breaking news, in-depth legislative analysis, rebukes of political adversaries, and personal appeals.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode provides a comprehensive look at the current GOP push for election security via the SAVE Act, the legislative and procedural hurdles in the Senate, and the fierce internal and external opposition—including detailed constitutional arguments. Simultaneously, it exposes the climate of hostility faced by ICE agents, the political theater of congressional hearings, and recent law enforcement wins in Minnesota. Listeners also get real-time updates on the Nancy Guthrie missing persons case, with national and presidential engagement.

If you want sharp conservative analysis, a play-by-play of the news cycle, and inside perspective on U.S. legislative and enforcement battles, this episode delivers.